51³Ô¹Ï

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View synonyms for

bum

1

[buhm]

noun

  1. a person who avoids work and sponges on others; loafer; idler.

  2. a tramp, hobo, or derelict.

    Synonyms: ,
  3. Informal.Ìýan enthusiast of a specific sport or recreational activity, especially one who gives it priority over work, family life, etc..

    a ski bum; a tennis bum.

  4. Informal.Ìýan incompetent person.

  5. a drunken orgy; debauch.



verb (used with object)

bummed, bumming 
  1. Informal.Ìýto borrow without expectation of returning; get for nothing; cadge.

    He's always bumming cigarettes from me.

  2. Slang.Ìýto ruin or spoil.

    The weather bummed our whole weekend.

verb (used without object)

bummed, bumming 
  1. to sponge on others for a living; lead an idle or dissolute life.

  2. to live as a hobo.

adjective

bummer, bummest 
  1. Slang.Ìýof poor, wretched, or miserable quality; unsatisfactory.

    I figured $300 was a bum deal for a minor repair, but I paid it anyway.

  2. Slang.Ìýfraudulent or fake.

    He was accused of issuing a bum check for $2920.

  3. Slang.Ìýdisappointing; unpleasant.

  4. Slang.Ìýerroneous or ill-advised; misleading.

    I think the gauge is giving me a bum readout.

  5. Slang.Ìýphysically disabled, impaired, or injured.

    a bum leg.

verb phrase

  1. InformalÌýto travel, wander, or spend one's time aimlessly.

    We bummed around for a couple of hours after work.

bum

2

[buhm]

noun

Chiefly British Slang.
  1. the buttocks; rump.

bum

1

/ ²úÊŒ³¾ /

noun

  1. a disreputable loafer or idler

  2. a tramp; hobo

  3. an irresponsible, unpleasant, or mean person

  4. a person who spends a great deal of time on a specified sport

    baseball bum

    1. living as a loafer or vagrant

    2. out of repair; broken

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged†2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (tr) to get by begging; cadge

    to bum a lift

  2. to live by begging or as a vagrant or loafer

  3. to spend time to no good purpose; loaf; idle

  4. slangÌýto disappoint, annoy, or upset someone

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged†2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. (prenominal) of poor quality; useless

  2. wrong or inappropriate

    a bum note

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged†2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

bum

2

/ ²úÊŒ³¾ /

noun

  1. slangÌýthe buttocks or anus

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged†2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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51³Ô¹Ï History and Origins

Origin of bum1

An Americanism first recorded in 1860–65; perhaps a shortening of or back formation from bummer 1; adjective senses of unclear relation to sense “loafer†and perhaps of distinct origin

Origin of bum2

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English bom; of uncertain origin
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51³Ô¹Ï History and Origins

Origin of bum1

C19: probably shortened from earlier bummer a loafer, probably from German bummeln to loaf

Origin of bum2

C14: of uncertain origin
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. on the bum,

    1. living or traveling as or in a manner suggesting that of a hobo or tramp.

    2. in a state of disrepair or disorder.

      The oven is on the bum again.

  2. bum (someone) out, to disappoint, upset, or annoy.

    It really bummed me out that she could have helped and didn't.

In addition to the idioms beginning with bum, also see on the blink (bum).
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Republicans continued Friday to chastise Padilla, using words like “launch,†“lunge†and “bum rush†to describe Padilla’s behavior as he began to try to pose a question to Noem at Thursday’s news conference.

From

But one adviser told the network that the president was “bummed†about the situation Thursday.

From

So he ordered a pair of blue trunks with the name of his beloved football team on the back, and "went to all the matches after that with 'Everton' emblazoned on my bum".

From

Dickinson plays a supporting part in “Urchin†as a feral bum who steals wallets and harangues shopkeepers, but what you really notice is his generous spirit.

From

In a two-party system, where the only way to punish the bums in power is to vote for the bums you previously threw out, caution can make some sense as a political strategy.

From

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Related 51³Ô¹Ïs

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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Bulwer-Lyttonbum around